Saturday, March 17, 2007

the russian debutante's handbook

the russian debutante's handbook by gary shteyngart published in 2002.

Eastern Europeans and liberals are fodder for Shteyngart's forray into the Russian Mafia.

Monday, March 12, 2007

the distance from the heart of things


the distance from the heart of things by Ashley Warlick published in 1996.

Sweet thoughtful coming-of-age first novel by Ashley Warlick. I prefer a more narrative style, but Warlick carries through with her Southern retrospective.

Monday, March 5, 2007

angels

angels by denis johnson published 1983.

angels is a plain language and pedestrian story with gratuitous violence, the rambling 'already dead: a california gothic' is a much better read.
After leaving her husband for good reasons, a mother fleeing on a greyhound joins paths with an alcoholic ex-navy petty thief who takes her to party in Pittsburg. She and her two babies follow him to Chicago after he splits having burned through his money and his fingers. After arriving at the Chicago bus station without any resources, the mother toting the two babies is taken in by a random hoodlum who proceeds to drug and gang rape her.